La. District May Drop No-Retention Policy

The Rapides Parish School Board is expected to determine next week whether to retain the district's current no-retention policy for young students.

The board is scheduled to vote Monday on a motion to abolish its policy of not holding back pupils in grades kindergarten through third.

The policy was instituted in the 2006-07 school year by former Superintendent Gary L. Jones based on a "critical goal" set by the state. It was intended to reduce student dropout rates by getting students to grade level on time, he said.